Upper Grasslands Flower Meadows
At the top of the Lac du Bois Grasslands, right where the open areas meet the forest at 1000m elevation are outstanding flower meadows in spring. In mid-May the balsam root is flowering on open slopes. Chocolate lilies, larkspur, desert parsley, woodland star, shooting stars, death camas, violets, Thompson’s paintbrush, false solomons seal, avens, and lemonweed all compete for space, nutrients, sunshine, and water. On the open slopes, all seem to thrive. When the balsam root fades, successions of other plants will come. Most flower for about two weeks. A few (stonecrop, gaillardia, yarrow, cranesbill, pussytoes, and others) can continue to bloom through the dry summer, but May and June are the prime wildflower times.